A Single Man: Making of a Single Man

---

Waking up begins with saying

''am'' and ''now''.

Jennifer, I'm not gonna tell you again.

For the past eight months waking

up has actually hurt.

The cold realization that

I'm still here slowly sets in.

I was never teribly fond of waking up.

I was never one to jump out of bed and

greet the day with a smile like Jim was.

I used to want to punch him sometimes

in the morning he was so happy.

I always used to tell him that only fools

greet the day with a smile...

...that only fools possibly

escape the simple truth.

That now isn't simply now.

It's a cold reminder.

One day later than yesterday.

One year later than last year.

And that sooner or later it will come.

He used to laugh at me and then

give me kiss on the cheek.

It takes time in the morning

for me to become George.

The time to adjust to what is expected

of George and how he is to behave.

By the time I have dressed and

put the final layer of polish...

...on the now slightly stiff

but quite perfect George...

...I know fully what part

I'm supposed to play

Looking in the mirror staring back at me

isn't so much as a face...

...as the expression of a predicament.

Just get through the goddamn day.

A bit melodramatic, I guess.

But then again...

...my heart has been broken.

I feel as if I am sinking, drowning...

...can't breathe.

Aren't you going to say something?

Are you kidding? It's spectacular.

What are you doing?

Just stop it.

Stop it.

I don't think that you're quite

ready for life in a glass house.

Drapes, old man.

You're the one who is always saying

that we are invisible.

That's not exactly what I meant.

For the first time in my life

I can't see my future.

Every day goes by in a haze.

But today I have decided

will be different.

Finally. You know it's been

raining here all day.

I've been trapped in this house

waiting for you to call.

I'm sorry, I must have the wrong number.

I'm calling for Mr. George Falconer.

I'm sorry, I was expecting someone else.

Yes sir, you have indeed called the...

...correct number. How may I help you?

- This is Harold Ackerley.

I'm Jim's cousin.

Of course.

Yes, good evening Mr. Ackerley.

I'm afraid I'm calling with

some bad news.

There has been a car accident.

An accident?

There has been a lot of snow here

lately and the roads have been icy.

On his way into town,

Jim lost control of his car.

It was instantaneous apparently.

It happened late yesterday, but his

parents didnt want to call you.

I see.

In fact, they don't that

I'm calling you now.

But I thought that you should know.

Thank you.

I know this must be quite a shock.

It was for all of us.

Yes, indeed.

- Will there be a service?

- The day after tomorrow.

Well, I suppose I should

get off the phone...

...and book a plane flight.

The service is just for family.

For family, of course.

Well, thank you for calling.

- Mr. Ackerley?

- Yes?

- May I ask what happened to the dogs?

- Dogs?

There was a dog with him but he died.

Was there another one?

Yes, there was a small female.

I don't know, I'm sorry.

I haven't heard anyone

mentioning another dog.

- Well, thank you for calling Mr. Ackerley.

- Goodbye, Mr. Falconer.

Hello, Charley.

How did you know it was me?

Charlotte, nobody else calls me

before eight in the morning.

I didn't call too early, did I?

You sound grumpy.

No, I have a headache.

Listen, I was going to call you actually.

Is too late to change my mind about tonight.

No, of course not.

I haven't seen you all week.

- I'm dying for a dose of you.

- I know, I'm sorry.

So great, I'll see you tonight.

I have to run.

I'm late for the work.

I'll call you later from school.

Alright, I see you then.

- Bye, kiddo.

- Bye, old man.

Good morning, Mr. George.

Sir, you don't look so good today.

Good morning, Alva.

No, I didn't sleep very well.

You forgot to take the bread

out of the freezer this morning.

It stays fresh that way.

It was a little too fresh this morning.

There are some papers

laid out on my desk...

...which need to stay there.

Please don't move them.

- I'm afraid my pen leaked all over the bed.

- It's okay, sir.

- Alva?

- Yes, sir?

Thank you, you're a wonderful.

This government, as promised,

has maintained the closest surveillance...

...of the Soviet military buildup

on the Island of Cuba.

Within the past week unmistakable evidence...

...has established the fact...

- Professor Falconer?

- Yes?

There was a student here this

morning asking for your address.

My address?

- Did you give it to him?

- Yes, sir.

I did.

I hope that's okay.

I realize that I probably shouldn't

have but he was very nice.

Before I knew it he...

Your hair looks great up like that.

I really fits suits you.

You always look so beautiful...

...really fresh...

You have such a lovely smile.

- Arpge?

- Sir?

Really beautiful.

...that a series of offensive missile sites...

- Good morning, Don.

- Good morning, George.

Good morning, George.

Good morning, Grant.

You look awful.

What have you been doing?

Look around you, Grant.

Most of these students aspire to

nothing more than corporate job...

...and a desire to raise coke-drinking,

TV-watching children...

...who as soon as they can

speak start chanting TV jingles...

...and smashing things with hammers.

- You're really scaring me today, George.

Don't tell me. You have

easy time with these students.

I found them staring at me

in a kind of bovine stupor...

...as if I were lecturing in

a foreign language.

Remind me why we shouldn't

all just be annihilated.

You seem to think this is all a joke.

We're living in a world where

nuclear war is a real threat.

I don't understand how

that doesn't concern you.

You're serious, aren't you?

Yes, I'm serious.

George did you even read the article

I gave you on bomb shelters?

Our is almost done. We had 3

contractors work on it...

...so none of them know what we've got.

I'm having the outside of it landscaped

so no one will that it's there.

Really?

If word gets out that

you've got a better shelter...

...then everyone will try to get in

when something happens.

So?

There will be no time for sentiment

when the Russians fire a missile at us.

If it's going to be a world with

no time for sentiment Grant...

...the it's not a world

that I want to live in.

After Many a Summer Dies the Swan.

I think you've all...

...read the Huxley novel I assigned

more than three weeks ago?

How does the title relate to our story?

- Yes, Mr. Mong.

- It doesn't.

It's about a rich guy who's too

afraid that he's too old for this girl...

...and thinks that a young guy...

Russ.

Russ?

Yes, Mr. Hirsch.

Sir, on page 79, Mr. Propter says that...

...the stupidest text in the Bible is

they hated me without a cause.

Does that mean the Nazis were

right to hate the Jews?

- Is Huxley an anti-Semite?

- No.

No, Mr. Huxley is not an anti-Semite.

Of course, the Nazis were

wrong to hate the Jews.

But their hating the Jews

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes